Means for producing soldered joints



March 12, 1935. 5, PRZYBORQWSKI 1,994,436

MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOLDERED JOINTS Filed June 2, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 1& INVENTOR ATTOR I arch E2, 1935. s. PRZYBOROWSKI MEANS FOR PRODUCINGSOLDERED JOINTS Filed June 2, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5220/3/00:

March 12, 1935.. s. PRZYBOROWSKI MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOLDERED JOINTSFiled Jude 2, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dwk March 12, 1935. s. PRZYBOROWSKIMEANS FOR PRODUCING SOLDERED JOINTS Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 2, 1932 WIllllllll INVi-INTOR ybarvw/V/ ATTORNEY March 12, 1935. PRZYBCROWSK]1,994,436

MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOLDERED JOINTS )NVEN TOR. 5720/5/(2 us Pr zykmqskiATTORNEM March 12, 1935- s. PRZYBOROWSKI I 1,994,435

MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOLDERED JOINTS Filed June 2, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented Mar. 12, 1935 9 ,435 OFFICE 4 V 'MEANsron PRODUCI G SOLDEREDJOINTS Stanislaus Przyborowski, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to FeddersManufacturing Company, Inc Bufi Application: Julie 2. 1932. serra ed614,923-

13 Claims. (or. na -.59).

This inventionrelates to means .for producing soldered joints J betweenmetallic members and its has particular reference to a -machine"iorsoldering formed sections of finribbon to tubing for the production of.heat exchange devices.

It has been customary to pre fo-rm strips of light gagefmetal intocontinuous-fin sections adapted to seat on a condenser or radiator tubeto obviate the labor of handlingandassembling individual'fins. Thesoldering or securing-of the fins to the tubes, however, hasnot beensimpli fied by this proposal, and has remainedfa Jlabo rious andexactingtask. In therpresent invention a machine has been devised to effect/theassembly of this type of fin ribbon toiatubeand, briefly, it consistspfa conveyor device designed to engage successive ribbon and tube unitsand to convey the same through a heated zone wherein the fins aresoldered or .otherwis eunited to the tube. Various details are alsoprovided for; such as the automatic applicationof flux beforetheheatingstepand the quenching of the'integrated members subsequent tothe heating-operation.

:In one formof the invention,ithe solderis dis-' posed. between the finsand, the tubingbefore the parts are mutually united, while in anotherembodiment solder is separately fed into the machine andjxbrought.intodirectconta'ct with" heated membersv for-a soldering operation.These andlother features of the inventionare more'spe' cifica-lly setforth in the specification and accom panying drawings, wherein:-. 1; i r

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic topviewshowing the soldering machine andassociated .units.

Fig. 2 isa perspective view showing abortion of compositefin ribbonpriorto assembly;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the fin ribbon and tube assembly.

Fig.'-4 an enlarged .top plan view of one embodiment of the invention,with portions broken away to show the pressure pad structure. Fig. 5 isan enlarged section on the 'line 5 --5 of 'Fig. 4; a

Fig. 16 is a side elevationof the machine. Fig. .7 is an enlargedsection on theline ls-"'7' ofqFig. 1 showing the details of the fluxapplying device. g N

Fig. 8 is a longitudinalsection through the flux applying device. r

Fig. 9 isa perspective :view of a pair of "holding JlgS.. i

in operation. r

Fig. 11 is ajsection on the line 11-1-11 of Fig.

4 with portions; omitted to show the cooling spray device. f

Fig. 12-is a fragmentary top view of a further embodiment of theinvention, 1 i

. Fig. 1.3 .is a sectionon the line 13-1-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 10 is an elevation showing the holding jigs -:Fig. 14 is a sideview of the device shown in Fig. 12

7 Fig. 15.15, a section on the line 15 15 of Fig.12

particularly showing the solder wire feedand flattening devices. V

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a wire guide with portions broken awayto show the guideway arrangement. I

' Referring particularly to .Figs. 2 .and 3, it

will be observed that the fin ribbon 21 is provided "with a solder stripinsert 22: and that both are deformed to provide corrugations 23, eachhaving a longitudinal saddle portion24 at one crest adapted to receive asector of a condenser tube 25. For the present purposes, the sections.of ribbon [are arranged in opposed pairs on the tube 25 and the pairsare spacedfro-m each other so that, subsequent to the solderingoperation hereinafter described,1such spaced portions may be formed intobent portions: to provide a, condenser or like heat exchange coil., 7The soldering machine; indicated ,bythe numeral '30 in Fig. 1,' may beadvantageouslgassociated with a ribbon corrugating machineC,whereinthesections ofjribbon are delivered to a connecting platform P,for subsequent: manual fitting totheelongated tube 25' within theconfines-eta jig unit forming part of the soldering apparatus. Prior toentering the soldering *ap paratus, the tube 25 isdrawn between apairEof fiuxapplying rollers'26 for receiving an application of fluxpreparatory to thesoldering operation. 'Ihe*tube portion leaving the'machineis automatically released by the holding jigs and presents anappearance as shown in ,Fig. 1 where in thecorrugated ribbon stripsarepermanently secured at spaced intervals. These assembled portions mayeventually enter a bending unit where the tube is bent into convolutionssuitable to; provide a coil.

Theflux applyingv rollers 26 are spaced discs ofieltor like material(Figs. 7 and 8) mounted on opposite, sides of a central circular flange:27 of an idler shaft 28 and they are retained in such position bysuitable nuts 29 and interposed washers mounted on this shaft. The shaftis removably mounted in a flux containing tank 31 provided with openbearings32 for receiving the same. The tank is conveniently mounted in arecess provided in the platform Pand is adapted to contain asupply offlux in which the lower portions of the rollers are immersed.

The soldering machine generally comprises a machine base 35'(see Figs.4, .5 aud o), formed with a horizontal face 36 upon-which are mounted aplurality of sprockets 3'7 adapted toreceive chains 38 forming theconveying meansfor the previously mentioned jigs (Fig. 4) The two lefthand or driven sprockets are secured ,to studs 39 Which are received inbushings similar to the 43, respectively mounted in similar bosses, andthey are connected for unitary movement by attached gears 44. The stud42 is connected to-a drive mechanism by means of a bevelgear 45 securedthereto, whereby both chains are driven at a similar rate of speed.

The driving mechanism for the conveying means is mounted on a bracket 46secured to I the machine base 35 (Fig. 6), and it comprises a motor 4'7and a reducing gear train, generally indicated by the numeral 48,terminating in a driven bevel gear 49 in meshing engagement with thebevel gear of the stud 42.

As-shown in Fig. 9, the ribbon holding jigs 51 are elongated members,linked together to form two chains 52 and 53 which are received betweenthe adjacent or inner legs of the driving chains 38. Specifically, eachjig is formed with a hook 54(Figs. '9 and 10) at one extremity and a pin55 at the opposite extremity-respectively adapted to engage the pin andhook on adjacent-"jigs to provide a detachable connection. The outerface of each member is formed withparallel' raised tracks 56 adapted toreceive projecting lugs 5'7 of the drive chain links (Figs. 4 and 13),and the inner face is formed with an open pocket58' for receiving aribbon section 21 and it also contains arcuate notches 59in its endwalls for engaging the tube 25. The adjacent jigs in the two jig.

chains are arranged to register as shown in Fig. 10, and, when clampedto the tube as hereinafter described, they are proportioned to compressthe somewhat resilient fin sections into tight engagement with the tube.V

The inner legs of the-drive chains. 38 are retained in frictionaldrivingcontact With-the jig chains 52 and 53, received therebetween, bymeans of a plurality of spring thrust pressure blocks 61 (Figs. 4 and13) arranged adjacent each of such legs of the drive chains. Y Theseblocks are mounted for sliding movement in open-housings 62 secured tothe base 35 and each'block corrtains drilled holes 63 adapted to mount acom pression spring 64 for engagement with the Wall of cooling water onthe of the housing62. I 'It will be observed that the-fin filled jigsentering between the drive chains are tightly engaged with theaccompanying tube upon entering the zone of the pressure blocks 61, andthat this pressure is maintained by the springs 64 during transitthrough the apparatus; a

. Means are provided for heating the tube and fin assemblies while intransit in the conveying chains, which herein comprises a gas burner 69,formed with a series of nozzle openings '71 registering-with a slot 68formed in the base 35 (Figs; '5 and 13) and it is adapted to' directjets of ignited gas to the overlying fin sections during movementthereoffThe end of the burner projects downwardly to a supplypip'e whichis provided with a mixing and shut-off valve '72 for controlling thevolume of gas delivered to the burner (Fig.6). i '2 Subsequent topassing the biu'ner. 69,the fin and tube assembly passes under a pipe'73 which is connected to a Water supply and-which contains nozzleopenings 74 for directing streams heated assembly (Figs. 4 and 11). a Inassembling the fin sections with the tube it will be noted that, due tothe link arrangement of the jigs, a hinging or spreading movement isobtainable to present a generous openingafor the assemblingoperation,'and, during its sub' sequent action they form selfclosingdies Succeeding the assembling: operation, the afilled .jig isslowly drawn over the burner 69, whereupon the solder portions of theribbon are fused while a under pressure of the blocks 61 and finally theapparatus eachpair of jigs is detached from the entire assembly iscooled and washed under the -water spray from the pipe '73 to completethe 'solderingoperation. Upon leaving the soldering succeeding jigs. andis returned to the loading station.

It is contemplated that sections of fin ribbon 21 may be providedwithout the solder insert 22; V

and, in this event, means are provided to direct a ribbon or wire ofsolderinto the'previouslydescribed jig s-in the heatingxzone to secure:the

tube to the ribbon." This phaseofthe invention is shown in Figs..12416,and itichiefiy consists'of' the provision-08a:solder'feeddevicefor the mechanism-heretoforedescribed;

The feed'device- 80 comprises a pair'of spaced containing round:solder'wire. Immediately below, the-spools 85 a. pair of drivenflattening rollers 8'7 and .88 are mountedwhich are adapted to withdraw'wire from thespoolsig85 forfflattening and conveyance to the underlyingheated tube and fin ribbon assemblies. f I

The roller 87 is mounted on a drivenshaft 89 which extends through asuitable bearing in the bracket 82 for attachment to this roller.- Theremainingroller 88 is formed withan oppositely extending shaft portion91 which is 'receiveddn a bearing block 92. The bearing block isxslid-xably mounted in transverseslots93 in-the brackets and it is retained ina'definitel positio'nTrelative to the roller87 by a icapmember 94' whichis secured to. both brackets and is formed with portions 95 inengagementtherewith.

As shown inFig;15,-thefiattened wires, de-

livered ,by the rollers 8'7- and 88; enter 'a' guide device 9'7secured'tothe bracket-'82 andformed with rectangular passages 98 -and 99arranged at a slight angle relative to each 'other' 'to. direct a ribbonof solder to opposite sidesof the center of the heated tube 255- (Figs.15 and-16).

The rollers 87 and.88 are connected'for unitary rotation by intermeshinggears v102 secured to the driven shaft 89 and the shaft 91' respe'c'tively. and a drive mechanism is provided "to operate; the shaft 89.prises a sprocket 103 (Fig. 12) mounted onthe bed 35.by a shaft .104andadapted. to be actively engaged by the drive chain 38. A bracket 105is also. mounted on the bed 35and is formed This mechanism com withbearings 106 which receive a shafti-107.

This shaft'is driven by the sprocket-shaft 103' through the medium ofbevel gears 108 and it also carries'a second bevel gear 109 meshing-witha gear 111 of the driven shaft 89. The gear lllfis rotatably mounted onthe shaft 89 and it"carzone "(Figs 12, 13 and 14'). This-comprises ayoke 11 7 having-bearing portions '118 engaging the clutch member 11aand retained between shoulders 119 and 121 thereon. The yoke extendsdownwardly and-is formed with a hub 122 pivotally mounted on the housing62 by a. pin connection 123. An'arm 124' extends from the hub portionand terminates in acamportion 125 which is dis'posed'in thepath of thejig sections and isadapted to be engaged-andlifted to throw the clutchinto engagement. A spring 126, secured to the arm V124 and the base35,imparts a down- Ward load Onthearm sufficient to release the clutchjaws. a The-operation of the last described embodiment of'the inventionis Substantially similar to that of the firstenibodimenh-Withthe-exception that the "solder ribbon is applied at a point in theheating zonewhere it immediately becomes fused-' upon contact with themoving tube and flows about the saddle portions of the fins -21 toconnect the same. During this operation the solder'wire is-fedcontinuously by means of the rolls 87 and 88, and being flattenedtherein, it is readily-fusible upon engagingthe moving tube.- when thelast-of' the jig sections inthe tube as sembly passes the rolls 87 and88, the cam-portion 125 of the operating -arm"124 is unsupported and thearm isthen drawn downwardlyunder urge of "the spring 126, thus-movingthe'sliding clutch member 114 out of engagement with the drivingmechanism-to prevent-further feeding of solder. Uponthe" entry'of-a newjig chain unit in the apparatus, the arm' 1241s again actuated u wardlyto engage the clutch mechanism wherebythe's older'wire is againiedto theheated tube section. c

It will be obvious that the invention of the soldering apparatus may beapplied in numerous manners and with numerous other articles withoutdeparting from the principles above described. For example, withsufiicient floor space, the extremities of the jig chains could easilybe connected'to form endless jig devices. The apparatus may also bevaried to solder products of difierent shapes than the tube and finsherein illustrated, and in such event the jig proportions could bevaried to suit the product.

I claim:

1. In a device for connecting a fin section member to a tube member,conveying means, jig members formed to engage said tube and having eansfor receiving said fin sections for retaining the same in intimateengagement with said tube, said jig members being adapted to be fed intosaid conveying means for movement thereby, means for heating said tubeduring transit, and means operated in timed relation to said conveyingmeans for feeding solder wire to said heated tube for fusion thereon toconnect said tube and fin sections.

2. In a device for connecting fin section members to a tube member,wherein one of saidmembers is provided with a solder insert, conveyingmeans, jig members formed to engage said tube and having portions forreceiving said fin sections in intimate engagement with said tube, and aheating element adjacent said conveying means, saidjig members beingadapted to be fed into said conveying means for movement thereby,whereby the tube and fin sections therein are l-heate'd during transitby said heating element to fuse the solder.

3. In a device for connecting a fin section member to a tube member,wherein one of said be fed into said conveying means for movementthereby, pressure pad means for engaging said jigs during transit topress said jigs-to saidtube whereby said fin sections are retained inintimate engagement with said tube, and a heating-element adjacent saidconveying means for-fusing said solder during transit of said members.4. In a device for connecting fin section members to a tube memberwherein one of said mem-' bers is provided with a solder insert,- ajigmem bercompri'sing a body-havinga-pocket formed to receive a fin sectionand spacedseat portions engaging'said tube, said fin sectionsintimately'engaging said tube, a heating element, and means formovingsaid jig-member and accompanying tube and fin section oversaid'heating'element' to fuse the solder thereon. I i

5. In a device for connecting fin section'members to a tube memberwherein one of said members is provided witha solder insert,'a pluralityof jig members each comprising a'body formed to-receive a fin sectionand spaced seat portions engaging said tube with said fin sections'ininti mateengagement with the tube, means on each jig member forattachment to an adjoining 'jig memberto form a chain of jig'members, aheat-- ing element, and means for moving-saidji'gchain and accompanyingtube and 'fin sectionsoven said heating element to fuse thesoldertheI'QO1'l. l

6. In a device for connecting fin section in'embersto atubememberwherein-one of saidmembers is provided with a solderinsert', aplurality' of jig members each comprising a body formed to receive a finsection and spaced seat portions engaging said tube with said finsections in intimate engagement with the tube, means on each jig memberfor attachment to an adjoining jig member to form a chain of jigmembers, a heating element, means for moving said jig chain andaccompanying tube and fin sections over said heating element to fuse thesolder thereon, and means engaging said jig members during transit toclamp them to said tube.

7. In a device for connecting fin section members to a tube member,wherein one of said members is provided with a solder insert, a jigchain comprising a plurality of detachably connected jig members, eachjig member having an open pocket for receiving a fin section and spacedseat portions engaging said tube with said fin sections in intimateengagement with said tube, a heating element, conveying means adapted toprogressively engage the jig members of said chain to move the same oversaid heating element whereby said solder is fused, and means engagingsaid jig chain during transit to clamp the jig members to said tube.

8. In a device for connecting fin section members to a tube memberwherein one of said members is provided with a solder insert, conveyingmeans comprising sprocket members, a pair of- .endless chains thereon,said chains having parward each other for frictional engagement withsaid jigs,'and a heating, element between said chain sections forheating the tube and fin sections during transit to fuse the solderthereon.

' .9. In a device for connecting fin section members to a. tube member,conveying means, drive means therefor, jig meansformed to engage saidtube and to receive a fin section in intimate engagement with said tube,said jig member and accompanying tube and finisection being adapt: ed tobe fed into said conveying means for movement thereby, means for heatingsaid tube during transit, a solder wire supply, means for feeding thewire onto said heated tube, a driving connection between saidconveyorand said last named means, and clutch means operated by the jigmember for connecting said driving connection foroperation by saidconveyor.

10. In a device for connecting fin section members toa tube member,conveying means, drive means therefor, jig means formed to engage saidtube and to receive afin section intimate engagement with said. tube,said jig memberand accompanying tube and fin section being adapted tobe-fed into said conveying means for movement thereby, means for heatingsaid tube during transit, a solder wire supply, means for feedingthewire onto said heatedtube, a driving connection between said conveyorand said last named means, and clutch means operated by the jig memberfor connecting said driving connection for operation by said conveyor,and pressure padimeans engagingsaid jig during transit to clampsaid jigto said tube. 1

11. In a device for connecting fin section members to a tube member,conveying means, drive means therefon jig means formed to engage saidtube and to receive a fin section in intimate engagement with said tube,said jig member and accompanying tube and fin section being adapted tobe fed into said conveying means formovement 7 thereby, means forheating said tube during tran sit, a solder wire supp1y, a' pair ofrolls, a driving connection therefor,said'rollsbeing arranged toWithdraw wire'from said supply and to flatten the same, guide means for,receiving the 'fiattened wire and directing it to said heater tube, and

clutch means operated'by the jig'member for connecting saiddrivingzconnection for'operation by said conveyor.

-12. A machine for integrating assembledpa t n. comprising a pair ofspaced conveying members adapted to engage and convey Work holding jigs,

means for driving the conveying members, means 3 13. A machine forintegrating assembled parts comprising a pairof spaced conveyingmembers,

means for. driving said membersin unisonin the same direction, a pair ofopposed jigmembers adapted to be, inserted between said conveyingmembers for movement thereby, each jig mem-fl ber being articulated toform' a plurality of sections each adapted, in cooperation with theorg-" 3 posed section of the remaining jig member, to hold work to beintegrated in assembled relation,

and means disposed in the space between the-gon V veying members forintegrating the assembled parts passing therebetween. i

. STANISLAU$ PRZYBOROWSKI.

